Arox members at St Xavier’s College. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Dec. 30: Gregarious old Xaverians today assembled in the state capital from places like US, Germany, Delhi and from across the country committing much for their alma mater.

Five hundred Association of Ranchi Old Xaverians (Arox) came together for an annual get-together. The old boys gave scholarship to two meritorious and economically backward students (a boy and a girl) and installed a water purifying plant in reputed St Xavier’s College.

Dr Avinash Gupta, now settled in New Jersey in the U.S., was part of the enthusiastic members. “This is the time to give back the institution where our careers were shaped. This is not only a get-together, but one with a cause,” he said.

Gupta promised to donate Rs 2 lakh to the now autonomous college. The amount would be invested in a deposit with a nationalised bank and interest earned from it would be used to give full scholarship to two students every year. “It would be the prerogative of the college principal to chose two meritorious but economically backward students to give the freeship,” said Gupta.

Another old Xaverian, Ramesh Pandey, now the head of postgraduate department of botany in Ranchi University, was excited about having the opportunity to meet all the Arox members.

The annual get-together began on the college grounds past 7pm with a campfire, lavish dinner and music.

Arox general secretary Prem Mittal said they would also felicitate those Arox members who won the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries election, the results of which were announced late this evening.

Former director-general of police R.R. Prasad, senior IAS officer Mridula Sinha, S.K.F Kujur and the chairman of Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission among others were supposed to attend the annual get-together.